Nectarine tree named ‘Burnecteleven’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct variety of nectarine tree ( Prunus persica  sub species  nuciperisica ), denominated varietally as ‘Burnecteleven’, and which produces an attractively colored yellow-fleshed, clingstone nectarine which is mature for harvesting and shipment approximately July 24 to August 8 under ecological conditions prevailing in the San Joaquin Valley of Central California.

BACKGROUND OF THE NEW VARIETY

The present invention relates to a new, novel and distinct variety ofnectarine tree, Prunus persica (subspecies nucipersica), which has beendenominated varietally as ‘Burnecteleven’.

ORIGIN

The present variety of nectarine tree resulted from an on-going programof fruit and nut tree breeding. The purpose of this program is toimprove the commercial quality of deciduous fruit and nut varieties androotstocks by creating and releasing promising selections of prunus,malus and regia species. To this end we make both controlled and hybridcross pollinations each year in order to produce seedling populationsfrom which improved progenies are evaluated and selected.

The seedling ‘Burnecteleven’ was originated by us from a population ofseedlings grown in our experimental orchards located near Fowler, Calif.The seedlings, grown on their own roots, were the result of a controlledcross of the yellow-fleshed ‘Summer Bright’ nectarine tree (U.S. PlantPat. No. 7,049) which was used as the pollen parent; and the yellowfleshed, clingstone peach tree, ‘A40.005’, (unpatented) which was usedas the seed parent. One seedling, which is the present variety,exhibited especially desirable characteristics and was designated as‘C3.101’. This promising variety was marked for subsequent observation.After the 1996 growing season, this new nectarine variety was selectedfor advanced evaluation and repropagation.

ASEXUAL REPRODUCTION

Asexual reproduction of the new and distinct variety of nectarine treewas accomplished by budding the new variety to ‘Nemaguard’ Rootstock(non-patented). This was performed by us in our experimental orchardwhich is located near Fowler, Calif. Subsequent evaluations have shownthose asexual reproductions run true to the original tree. Allcharacteristics of the original tree and its fruit were established andappear to be transmitted through succeeding asexual propagations.

SUMMARY OF THE VARIETY

‘Burnecteleven’ is a new and distinct variety of nectarine tree, whichis of large size, and which has vigorous growth. The new variety is alsoa regular and productive bearer of relatively large, firm, yellowfleshed, clingstone fruit which have good flavor and eating quality.This new and novel tree has a medium chilling requirement ofapproximately 750 hours. The new tree also produces relatively uniformlysized fruit which are distributed throughout the tree, and which has ahigh degree of red skin coloration, and a firm flesh. The fruit of thenew variety also appears to have good handling and shipping qualities.Still further, the ‘Burnecteleven’ Nectarine tree bears fruit that areripe for commercial harvesting and shipment on approximately July 24 toAugust 8. In relative comparison with the ‘Summer Bright’ nectarinetree, which is the pollen parent, the new variety ripens about 10 dayslater than the variety ‘Summer Bright’ at the same geographicallocation.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

The accompanying drawing, which is provided, is a color photograph ofthe present variety. The photograph depicts two whole mature fruit, andone fruit dissected in substantially the suture plane to expose theflesh and the pit. Additionally the photograph displays a characteristictwig bearing typical leaves, and a pit with the flesh removed. Theexternal coloration of the fruit is shown sufficiently matured forharvesting and shipment. The colors are as nearly true as is reasonablypossible in a color representation of this type. Due to chemicaldevelopment, processing and printing, the leaves and fruit depicted inthese photographs may or may not be accurate when compared to the actualspecimen. For this reason, future color references should be made to thecolor plates (Royal Horticultural Society) and descriptions providedhereinafter.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring more specifically to the pomological details of this new anddistinct variety of nectarine tree, the following has been observedduring the sixth fruiting season under the ecological conditionsprevailing at orchards located near the town of Fowler, county ofFresno, state of California. All major color code designations are byreference to The R.H.S. Colour Chart (Fourth Edition) provided by TheRoyal Horticultural Society of Great Britain.

Tree:

Size.—Generally — Considered medium large as compared to other commoncommercial nectarine cultivars ripening in the middle to late season ofmaturity. The tree of the present variety was pruned to a height ofapproximately 290.0 cm to 320.0 cm at maturity.

Vigor.—Moderately vigorous. The present variety grew from about 125.0 cmto 142.0 cm in height during the first growing season. The variety waspruned to a height of approximately 134.6 cm in the first dormant seasonand primary scaffolds were then selected for the desired tree structure.

Productivity.—Productive. Fruit set varies from about twice to severaltimes more than the desired crop load. Fruit set is spaced by thinningto develop the remaining fruit into the desired market size. The numberof fruit set varies with climatic conditions and cultural practicesduring the bloom period and is therefore not distinctive of the variety.

Bearer.—Regular. Fruit set has been heavy and thinning was necessaryduring the past 6 years.

Form.—Upright, and pruned to a vase shape.

Density.—Medium dense. It has been discovered that pruning the branchesfrom the center of the tree to obtain a resulting vase shape allows forair movement and appropriate amounts of sunlight to enhance fruit colorand renewal of fruiting wood throughout the tree.

Hardiness.—The present tree was grown and evaluated in USDA HardinessZone 9. Winter chilling requirements are approximately 750 hours below7.0 degrees C. The variety appears to be hardy under typical central SanJoaquin Valley climatic conditions.

Trunk:

Diameter.—Approximately 17.8 cm in diameter when measured at a distanceof approximately 15.24 cm above the soil level, at the end of the sixthgrowing season.

Bark texture.—Considered moderately rough, with numerous folds of paperyscarfskin being present.

Lenticels.—Numerous flat, oval lenticels are present. The lenticelsrange in size from approximately 3.0 to about 5.0 millimeters in width,and from about 1.0 to about 2.0 millimeters in height.

Lenticel color.—Considered an orange brown, (RHS Greyed Orange GroupN167 C).

Bark coloration.—Variable, but it is generally considered to be darkbrown, (RHS Greyed Orange Group 177 A).

Branches:

Size.—Considered medium for the variety.

Diameter.—Average as compared to other varieties. The branches have adiameter of about 8.9 centimeters when measured during the sixth yearafter grafting.

Surface texture.—Average, and appearing furrowed on wood which isseveral years old.

Crotch angles.—Primary branches are considered variable between about 44to about 54 degrees from the horizontal axis. This characteristic is notconsidered distinctive of the variety, however.

Current season shoots.—Surface texture — Substantially glabrous.

Internode length.—Approximately 2.3 to about 2.7 cm.

Color of mature branches.—Medium brown, (RHS Greyed Orange 176 A).

Current seasons shoots.—Color — Light green, (RHS Yellow Green GroupN144 D). The color of new shoot tips is considered a bright and shinygreen (RHS Yellow Green Group 144 C).

Leaves:

Size.—Considered medium large for the species. Leaf measurements havebeen taken from vigorous, upright, current-season growth atapproximately mid-shoot.

Leaf length.—Approximately 157.0 to about 174.0 millimeters.

Leaf width.—Approximately 32.0 to about 44.0 millimeters.

Leaf base shape.—Slightly oblique relative to the leaf longitudinalaxis.

Leaf form.—Lancelolate.

Leaf tip form.—Acuminate.

Leaf color.—Dark green, (approximately RHS Green Group 141 B).

Leaf texture.—Glabrous.

Lower surface.—Medium green, (RHS Yellow Green Group 144 A).

Leaf venation.—Pinnately veined.

Mid-vein.—Color — Light yellow green, (RHS Yellow Green Group N144 C).

Leaf margins.—Slightly undulating. Form — Considered crenate,occasionally doubly crenate. Uniformity — Considered generally uniform.

Leaf petioles.—Size — Considered medium short. Length — About 7.0 toabout 11.5 mm. Diameter — About 1.5 to about 2.5 mm. Color — Pale green,(RHS Yellow Green Group N144 A).

Leaf glands.—Size — About 1.0 mm in height, and about 1.0 mm in width.Number — Generally one per side, occasionally two per side. Type —Globose, and considered reasonably unappressed relative to the petiolemargin. Color — Grey brown, (RHS Grey Brown Group199 B).

Leaf stipules.—Size — Medium for the variety. Number — Typically 2 perleaf bud, and up to 6 per shoot tip. Form — Lanceolate in form andhaving a serrated margin. Color — Green, (RHS Green Group N138 A) whenyoung but graduating to a brown color, (RHS Greyed Orange group N167 A)with advancing senescence. The stipules are considered to be earlydeciduous.

Flowers:

Flower buds.—Generally — The floral buds, depending upon the stage ofdevelopment are approximately 5.0 millimeters wide; and about 10.0millimeters long; conic in form; and slightly appressed relative to thebearing shoot.

Flower buds.—Color — The bud scales are reddish-brown, (approximatelyRHS Greyed Purple Group 183 A). The buds are considered hardy undertypical central San Joaquin Valley climatic conditions.

Hardiness.—No winter injury has been noted during the last several yearsof evaluation in the central San Joaquin Valley. The current variety hasnot been intentionally subjected to drought or heat stress, andtherefore this information is not available.

Date of first bloom.—Mar. 3, 2002.

Blooming time.—Considered mid-season in comparison to other commercialnectarine cultivars grown in the central San Joaquin Valley. Date offull bloom was observed on Mar. 8, 2002. The date of first bloom variesslightly with climatic conditions and cultural practices.

Duration of bloom.—Approximately 9 days. This characteristic variesslightly with climatic conditions.

Flower type.—The variety is considered to have a non-showy type flower.

Flower size.—Flower diameter at full bloom is approximately 33.0 toabout 39.0 millimeters.

Bloom quantity.—Considered abundant.

Flower bud frequency.—Normally 1 to 2 appear per node.

Petal size.—Generally — Considered small for the species. Length —Approximately 12.0 to about 17.0 millimeters. Width — Approximately 9.0to about 11.0 millimeters.

Petal form.—Broadly ovoid.

Petal count.—Nearly always 5.

Petal texture.—Glabrous.

Petal color.—Light pink when young, (RHS Red Purple Group N57B) anddarkening with advancing senescence and exposure to sunlight to a mediumto dark pink, (RHS Red Purple Group 58 C).

Fragrance.—Slight.

Petal claw.—Form — The claw is considered truncate, and has a small sizewhen compared to other varieties. Length — Approximately 5.0 to about7.0 millimeters. Width — Approximately 4.0 to about 6.0 millimeters.

Petal margins.—Generally considered variable, from nearly smooth, tomoderately undulate and ruffled, especially apically.

Petal apex.—Generally — The petal apices generally appear entire, andwithout an apical groove.

Flower pedicel.—Length — Considered medium-long, and having an averagelength of approximately 2.0 to about 3.0 millimeters. Diameter —Considered average, approximately 2.0 millimeters. Color — A mediumbrown, (RHS Grey Brown Group N199 C).

Floral nectaries.—Color — A Dull orange red, (RHS Greyed Orange GroupN172 C).

Calyx.—Surface Texture — Generally glabrous. Color — A dull purple,(approximately RHS Greyed Purple Group 187 A).

Sepals.—Surface Texture — The surface has a short, fine pubescenttexture. Size — Average, and ovate in form. Color — A dull red,(approximately RHS Greyed Purple Group 183 A).

Anthers.—Generally — Average to below average in length. Color — Red toreddish-purple dorsally, (approximately RHS Greyed Purple Group 187 C).

Pollen production.—Pollen is abundant, and has a yellow color,(approximately RHS Yellow Orange Group 17 B).

Filaments.—Size — Variable in length, approximately 12.0 to about 16.0millimeters. Color — Considered a very pale pink, (RHS Red Purple Group62 D).

Pistil.—Number — Usually 1, rarely 2. Generally — Average in size.Length — Approximately 17.0 to about 19.0 millimeters including theovary. Color — Considered a very pale green, (approximately RHS YellowGreen Group 154 D). Surface Texture — The variety has a long glabrouspistil.

Fruit:

Maturity when described.—Firm ripe condition (shipping ripe); Date offirst picking — Jul. 24, 2002; and date of last picking — Aug. 11, 2002.The date of harvest varies slightly with the prevailing climaticconditions.

Size.—Generally — Considered large, and uniform.

Average cheek diameter.—Approximately 79.0 to about 83.0 millimeters.

Average axial diameter.—Approximately 73.0 to about 80.0 millimeters.

Typical weight.—Approximately 260.0 grams. This is highly dependent uponcultural practices and therefore is not distinctive of the variety.

Fruit form.—Generally — Moderately oblate. The fruit is generallyuniform in symmetry.

Fruit suture.—Shallow, and extending from the base to apex. No apparentcallousing or stitching exists along the suture line.

Suture.—Color — The background color appears to be a yellow to goldenyellow, (approximately RHS Orange Group 24 A), and occasionally havingsome red coloration, (approximately RHS Red Group 46 A).

Ventral surface.—Form — Slightly indented.

Apex.—Rounded.

Base.—Retuse.

Stem cavity.—Rounded, and considered relatively deep. Average depth ofthe stem cavity is about 1.65 cm. Average width is about 2.45 cm.

Fruit skin.—Thickness — Considered medium in thickness, and tenacious tothe flesh. Texture — Substantially glabrous. Taste — Non-astringent.Tendency to crack — None observed.

Color.—Blush Color — This red blush color is variable from a reddishorange, (approximately RHS Red Group 42 B) to a dark red, (approximatelyRHS Red Group 46 A). Blush color ranges from about 75% to about 95% ofthe fruit surface depending upon the sunlight exposure and theprevailing growing conditions. Ground Color — Yellow orange,(approximately RHS Orange Group 24 A).

Fruit stem.—Relatively long in length, approximately 7.0 to about 9.0millimeters. Diameter — Approximately 2.0 to about 3.0 millimeters.Color — Pale yellow-green, (approximately RHS Greyed Orange Group 163C).

Flesh.—Ripens — Evenly. Texture — Firm, and dense. Considerednon-melting. Fibers — Few, small, and tender. Aroma — Very slight.Eating Quality — Very good. Flavor — Considered sweet and mildly acidic.The flavor is considered both pleasant and balanced. Juice — Moderate.Brix — About 14.0 degrees. This characteristic varies slightly with ofnumber of fruit per tree; prevailing cultural practices, and thesurrounding climatic conditions. Flesh Color — Pale yellow,(approximately RHS Yellow Orange Group 14 C). The flesh can also exhibitred flecks that increase in frequency and intensity closer to the pit,(approximately RHS Red Group 46A).

Stone:

Type.—Clingstone.

Size.—Considered medium to large for the new variety.

Length.—Average, about 29.5 to about 33.0 millimeters.

Width.—Average, about 24.0 to about 27.0 millimeters.

Diameter.—Average, about 18.0 to about 20.0 millimeters.

Form.—Obovoid.

Base.—The stone is usually rounded, but may vary from rounded tostraight.

Apex.—Shape — The stone apex is raised, and has an acute, short tip.

Stone surface.—Surface Texture — Irregularly furrowed toward the apex,and pitted toward the base. The stone exhibits substantial pittinglaterally. Substantial grooving over the apical shoulders is evident.Surface pitting is prominent generally, and more frequently, it ispresent basally. Ridges — The surface texture varies from sharp torounded. Generally one ridge is located on the lateral sides and ispositioned just below the mid-point, apically is slightly exaggerated inprominence, the ridge extends in a looping fashion from the dorsal tothe ventral edge as seen in the drawing. Ventral edge — Width —Considered medium, and having a dimension of approximately 3.0 to about5.0 millimeters at the mid-suture. The wings are most prominent over thesuture line. Dorsal edge — Shape — Full, heavily grooved, and havingjagged edges. The dorsal edge is moderately eroded over the apicalshoulder.

Stone color.—The color of the dry stone is a purple brown,(approximately RHS Greyed Orange Group 176A).

Tendency to split.—Very few splits have been noted.

Kernel.—Size — Kernel is considered medium to large. Form — Consideredovoid. Pellicle — Texture — Pubescence has not developed at fruitsenescence. Color — (RHS Greyed Orange Group 165 B).

Use.—The subject variety ‘Burnecteleven’ is considered to be a Nectarinetree of the middle to late season of maturity, and which produces fruitwhich are considered to be firm, attractively colored, and which areuseful for both local and long distance shipping.

Keeping quality.—Excellent. Fruit has stored well up to 25 days afterharvest at 1.0 degree Celsius.

Shipping quality.—Good. Fruit showed minimal bruising of the flesh orskin damage after being subjected to normal harvesting and packingprocedures.

Resistance to insects and disease.—No particular susceptibilities werenoted. The present variety has not been tested to expose or detect anysusceptibilities or resistances of the new variety to any known plantand/or fruit diseases.

Although the new variety of nectarine tree possesses the describedcharacteristics when grown under the ecological conditions prevailingnear Fowler, Calif., in the central part of the San Joaquin Valley ofCalifornia, it should be understood that variations of the usualmagnitude and characteristics incident to changes in growing conditions,fertilization, pruning, pest control and horticultural management are tobe expected.

Having thus described and illustrated our new variety nectarine tree,what we claim is new and desire to secure by Plant Letters Patent is: 1.A new distinct variety of nectarine tree substantially as illustratedand described, and which is characterized principally as to novelty byproducing an attractively colored yellow-fleshed, clingstone nectarinewhich is mature for harvesting and shipment approximately July 24 toAugust 8 under the ecological conditions prevailing in the San JoaquinValley of Central California.